Railroad-crossing gate



Dec. 24, 1929. lRs|K 1,740,815

RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Fil p 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l- In venior Jgwwawah A iiomey 1929. E. L. IRSIK 1,740,815

RAILROAD CROSSING GATE Filed April 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 9 O O O 0b O O O O 0 In venior Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES EDWARD L.IRSIK, OF INGALLS, KANSAS RAILROAD-CROSSING GATE Application filed April15,

The present invention appertains to improvements in railroad crossinggates and more particularly to a gate of the type operated by therolling stock.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a railroad crossinggate which will be entirely automatic in operation.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a crossing gatewhich, in opera- 1 tion will be positive acting and which, be cause ofits simple construction, will not readily develop defects.

These and other very important objects of the invention will become moreapparent to the reader after considering the invention as described andclaimed hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a railroad crossing showing theroadway and track equipped with the improved mechanism.

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view through one of thegate structures.

Figure 3 represents a transverse sectional view through the said gate.

Figure 4 represents a side elevation of the operator and fragmentarilyshowing the buffer of a locomotive, with means engageable therewith.

Figure 5 represents a side elevation of the catch release, the sameshowing the opposite side from that shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts,at each side of the track rails 55 and extending transversely of theroadway 6 is a gate mechanism generally referred to by numeral 7. Eachgate construction consists of an elongated housing 8, provided with aremovable top cover 9, which is adapted to lie substantially flush withthe surface of the roadway 6. The plate 9 is formed with thelongitudinally extending slot 10, while a bar 11 is supported at itsends by the end walls of the housing 8 and is located slightly beneaththe top plate 9. To the bar 11 are pivotally connected fingers 12, whichare pointed at their upper ends and allowed to protrude through the slot10 when in upright position. These fig- 50 ures are pivotally connectedto the bar 11 as 1929. Serial No. 355,321.

at 13 and at their pivotal ends, the fingers 12 are provided withobliquely disposed stems 14. A slidable rod 15 "is slidab'ly disposedthrough an opening 16 in one end of the housing and has pivotallyconnected thereto the free ends of the stem 14. A log 17 depends fromthe rod 15 and has an offset portion 18, adapted to be engaged by thehead 19 of a rockable catch member'20.

A rod 21 is pivotally connected as at 22 to the opposite end of therockable member 20 and extends through an opening 23 in the opposite endwall of the housing 8. A coiled spring of the expansible type isdesignated by numeral 24, and tends to normally maintain the fingers 12in retracted position.

The bar 15 connects to the rocker 25. A connecting link 26 extendsbetween the rocker 25 and a second rocker 27, while a rod 28 ispivotally connected at one end to the rocker 27 and at its opposite endto the lower end of a. vertically disposed rockable lever 29, which isadapted to be engaged by the arcuate arm 30 on the front of thelocomotive generally referred to by A. The rockable lever 29 is mountedupon a suitable upright 30 in the manner as shown in Figure 4.

The rod 21 is connected to a cable 31 which is trained over a pulley 32and led to the lower end of a rockable lever 33, mounted upon a csuitable support 34 for a rocking motion on a plane transverse to thetrack rails 55, whereas the lever 29 rocks on a plane parallel to therails 55. It will thus be seen that when the arcuate arm 30 engages thelever 29, the movement of the lever will move the fingers 12 into theposition shown in Figure 2. The lug 17 will have its offset 18 engagethe head 19 of the catch 20 and thus retain the fingers in uprightposition even though the lever 29 is released. The arm 30 will afterwardengage the rockable lever 33 and move the outer end thereof outwardly sothat the lower end thereof will exert a pull on the cable 31 to releasethe rockable catch 20 and permit the fingers 12 to retract.

The mechanism has been shown in duplicate so as to operate the gate by atrain moving in either direction.

While the foregoing description has been in definite terms, it is to beunderstood that various changes in the specific shape, size andmaterials may be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

A railroad crossing gate comprising a housing embedded in a roadway, aplurality of pivotally mounted and normally concealed members arrangedWithin the housing, track means for elevating the said members toprotrude upwardly from the housing When engaged by rolling stock,latch'means for retaining the pivotal members in elevated position afterthe rolling stock has released the said track mechanism, additionaltrack mechanism for releasing said retaining means after the rollingstock has passed the road- Way, and spring means for retracting thepivotal members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWARD L. IRSIK.

